UPDATE: Possible meth lab busted in Jacksonville

Two people are in custody after the Illinois State Police Meth Response Team investigated a possible meth lab in Jacksonville this morning.

A press release from the Jacksonville Police Department indicates it received an anonymous tip at around 1 a-m of a lab in a residence located in a trailer park at 1033 East Morton.

Officers responded and made contact with the residents. Evidence was reportedly discovered, and police obtained a search warrant at around 7 a-m. City police and the Illinois State Police Meth Response team executed the warrant.

The two residents, 30-year-old Timothy Yowell and 27-year-old Sara Leinburger, were arrested for aggravated participation in methamphetamine manufacturing of 400 grams or more, methamphetamine child endangerment, possession of meth manufacturing material, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police Sergeant Adam Mefford says Yowell and Leinburger were the parents of two children, ages five and seven. He says the kids were taken into protective custody, transported to Passavant Area Hospital as a precautionary measure, and turned over to the Department of Children and Family Services.

“We took a precautionary measure because of some of the chemicals that are involved in the manufacture of meth, to make sure there were no ill effects,” he says.

“Methamphetamine, the whole process of manufacturing it, possessing the chemicals or any part of it is dangerous to anyone, let alone young kids at the time. We didn’t observe any ill effects to the children, but it’s strictly precautionary taking them to Passavant and getting them checked out. You can’t be too cautions when anyone’s around this kind of exposure for a prolonged time,” Mefford adds.

Mefford couldn’t say if any prepared meth was found, but there was some near-finished product.